Brad Womack

Following weeks of criticism and fans asking what the heck is he thinking? The Bachelor’sBrad Womack finally eliminated contestant Michelle Money, aka the show’s resident crazy pants.

Brad however defends Michelle in his new blog for PEOPLE magazine today, stating her “craziness” was “light-hearted.” Excerpts from Brad’s blog below -

“Yes, it was time to say goodbye to Michelle. Some of you may be sighing in relief; some may think she was around too long; some may think saying goodbye was a mistake. I’m going to defend Michelle once more … For everyone out there that is criticizing her, please try to see the humor in her antics. Here’s a woman that, yes, may be opinionated, but also doesn’t take herself too seriously and makes light of many situations. My decision to say goodbye to Michelle had absolutely nothing to do with her light-hearted craziness. It was simply a matter of not having feelings that warranted trying to begin a future with her. Michelle will be sorely missed.”

There are rumors that Michelle, who is an aspiring actress in real life, was just playing up her character for the show, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.

Meanwhile, the latest issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition came out today, featuring some sexy images of three of the contestants on the show. Michelle,Chantal O’Brien, and Ashley Hebert all posed with Brad on last night’s show for the magazine. Oddly enough, Michelle was the only one who kept her top on while Chantal and Ashley went topless for some shots.

Click The Continue Reading Button Below to See The Sexy Photos from Sports Illustrated!

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON BRAD ELIMINATING MICHELLE? DO YOU THINK SHE’S CRAZY? AND THOUGHTS ON THE SI PHOTOS? WHO TOOK THE BEST SHOTS?

Days after UsWeekly published a cover story detailing Brad Womack’s proposal to his ex-girlfriend just weeks before filming The Bachelor, it seems one of Brad’s contestants is next in the scandal hot seat.

According to a recent press release by Star Magazine, via Starcasm, contestant and rumored front runner Chantal O’Briencheated on her first husband Jason Vena with a cop, and that infidelity is what led to her divorce.

“Star can exclusively reveal that Chantal’s marriage crumbled because she had a torrid affair with a cop! “They met at a grocery store,” says an insider. And where was her husband? “He was on vacation with her dad!” the insider reveals. She soon filed for divorce and moved in with the policeman. “Her family really disapproved, and ultimately they broke up,” adds the insider.”

The latest issue of Star magazine did not publish the story so it is safe to assume the next issue will have the story along with more details. It’s gets even more interesting as Bachelor insider Reality Steve confirmed the story is indeed true.

In fact, Reality Steve doesn’t just confirm the story but also questions Chantal’s sincerity in doing the show. “Her marriage ended because she cheated, was finalized in Dec. of 2009, then wanted her ex husband back all the way up til leaving for the show in Sept. of 2010, and now four weeks into filming she’s telling Brad she loves him? Please. This chick is strictly out to win a competition and for attention. I don’t buy any of it, and ultimately, I don’t think Brad will either. Then again, these two might be two peas in a pod and deserve each other. Who knows?”

Meanwhile, Brad took to theLopez Tonight show late last week, during which he vehemently denied proposing to his ex-girlfriend Laurel Kagay.

“It is what it is. No, sir, I can 100 percent tell you I did not actually ask this woman to marry me….100 percent,” said Brad to George Lopez. “I’ve saved that for a very special woman. And if that [a proposal] happened…I’ve always saved that for a very special woman,” he added.

Laurel’s text messages to UsWeekly seem to prove otherwise while sources close to the situation tell E! News Laurel’s claims are “all true.”

And finally, an all new episode of the Bachelor airs tonight on ABC, in which Brad will be seen doing a sexy photo shoot for Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition with three of his remaining six contestants.

Those lucky ladies are Chantal, Ashley Herbertand Michelle Money, and SI has released two photos below from the shoot. The ladies along with Brad will actually appear in the SI 2011 swimsuit issue which goes on sale tomorrow Feb. 15.

Days after the UsWeekly cover story came out revealing that Brad Womack proposed to his on and off girlfriend of 8 years just weeks before going to film the Bachelor, more details are now coming out about the scandal.

Laurel Kagay, a 31-year-old spa owner from Austin, Texas, questions Brad’s sincerity in the mag, citing the fact that Brad not only proposed to her weeks before filming the current season, but that he also sent her messages during and after filming the show.

Laurel reveals that just days after proposing to her last July, Brad sent her the following text message revealing the Bachelor producers had asked him back on the show -

“Please don’t say a single word about this. The executive producers from The Bachelor just called. They want me to do the show again. This season. Haven’t discussed $ but it’d be a lot…”

One of the most shocking parts of the story is that fact that despite beginning filming the Bachelor in September, Brad sent Laurel the following message on Sept. 18: “Just wish you would let me in your life.” It didn’t end there as another message was sent to Laurel on Nov. 2 via an email in which he claimed to be “thinking” of her.

As for Brad’s claims that he had 3 years of intensive therapy to get over his commitment issues, Laurel states, “It was probably closer to three months” over a three year period adding that “he never stuck with it.”

“Before she decides to marry Brad, she needs to know where his head and heart are,” Laurel warns Brad’s final pick. “I’m sure the girl would want to know that he was proposing to another woman right before he started taping the show.”

Below are some more photos of Laurel.

TELL US – DO THESE DETAILS MAKE BRAD INSINCERE? SHOULD HIS FINAL PICK BE WORRIED? SHOULD ABC GIVE UP ON THE SHOW ALTOGETHER?

It’s that time of the year folks! You know, when the weekly magazines start to reveal some sordid secrets from the past of The Bachelor and its contestants.

Brad Womack graces the latest cover of UsWeekly magazine under the titled ‘Brad’s Double Life.’ The claims? Brad proposed to his on and off girlfriend of 8 years, Laurel Kagay, just weeks before he left to go film the Bachelor last year.

According to Laurel, Brad, 38, asked her to marry him countless times over the course of their relationship. “Even when we weren’t together, he would say how much he loved me and was going to marry me,” she tells UsWeekly.

It gets even worse as Laurel reveals after Brad spent the summer trying to woo her back — including a speech to Laurel, 31, and her mother saying he would “marry her right now” — he left to film the Bachelor, but continued to send her emails.

Laurel is now sending out a warning to Brad’s final pick on the show. “I’m sure the girl he picked would want to know that he was proposing to another woman right before he started taping the show,” she says. “I would want to know.”

You can read more about this story, which promises shocking texts, in the latest issue of UsWeekly.

TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS STORY? DOES IT CHANGE YOUR OPINION ON BRAD?

Eliminated Bachelor contestant Ashley Spivey is now speaking out on who is best for Brad Womack while also defending fellow contestant Emily in a new interview.

“In watching the show now, I still feel the same way I did when I left and I think Ashley [Hebert] and Emily [Maynard] have the strongest connection with Brad,” Ashley, 26, told reporters.

As for the comments Emily Maynard, 24, has received from some of the contestants on the show plus some fans who believe she might not be ready to move on yet following the tragic death of her fiance in 2004, Ashley states she sees things differently. “I don’t think people give her enough credit,” says Ashley. “She is very strong and if everyone would quit talking about [her past] long enough, they would see that she’s ready to move on and she’s ready to start a new chapter in her life.”

Moving on to Chantal O’Brien, who is rumored to be a final four contestant on the show, as the February 7 issue of Life & Style magazine questions if Chantal is still in love with her ex.

That ex would be Jason Vena, her ex-husband and former lead singer of the band Acceptance. High school sweethearts Chantal and Jason were married from 2005 to 2009, and the mag reveals Chantal still hoped to get back together with him just weeks before she left to film The Bachelor.

According to Life & Style, Chantal and Jason divorced after 10 years together, largely because Chantal felt the romance had gone stale. However, she almost immediately started to regret the split. “She knew she’d made a mistake,” says an insider.

And even though Jason had moved on and found love with a woman named Tawny Ingwaldson (Jason and Tawny are recently engaged), Chantal desperately tried to get him to reconcile with her. “Right before she left to film the show, she told Jason she wouldn’t go on The Bachelor if he took her back,” the insider reveals. “Chantal begged and pleaded and cried. Jason was in a lot of pain over it, but at the end of the day he said no.”

Following Jason’s rejection, Chantal then made the choice to go film The Bachelor and open herself up to the possibility of finding love again. Photos of Jason Vena below including one with his fiance Tawny.

And finally, it seems controversy does indeed sell as last week’s very controversial episode of the Bachelor (the Emily Nascar date) proved to be a ratings hit for ABC. The episode brought in 9.5 million viewers for the network, making it the most watched episode of the season.

A new episode of the Bachelor airs tonight at 8/7c.

TELL US – DO YOU THINK EMILY IS READY TO MOVE ON? DO YOU BELIEVE CHANTAL IS STILL IN LOVE WITH HER EX? THOUGHTS ON TONIGHT’S NEW EPISODE?

According to a new report by AM NewYork, Vienna, 23, former fiance of Jake Pavelka, was overheard “plugging” herself to be the next Bachelorette over dinner at Primo KO in New York City.

She was apparently in NYCto take part in a Bachelor reunion that was also attended by show alums Molly Malaney Mesnick, David Good, Rozlyn Papa, and Gia Allemand. No word on whether or not ABC is even considering having Vienna return as the Bachelorette though it might not be far fetched as Brad’s return is currently proving to be a success for the network. Monday’s episode of the Bachelor was the highest rated this season, bringing in 9.4 million viewers.

In other Vienna news, UsWeekly is also reporting she and former Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand got into a recent twitter war. It gets even better as it was over former Bachelorette contestant Wes Hayden, also Gia’s ex-boyfriend.

“I guess I can hope to be the Bachelorette now that Wes is dating Vienna!” Gia, 26, tweeted late Tuesday. Vienna didn’t take too well to Gia’s tweet as she denied dating Wes, despite claims they hooked up at a recent Bachelor reunion in Texas.

“It’s sad that people have to make up lies (Gia) that I’m dating someone so they can get sympathy and attempt to become the Bachelorette,” Vienna sniped back on twitter.

“[You are] a bad friend [and] everyone saw you guys at the reunion and in Texas. And [you] even approached me — hope they got it on camera. We will see soon on the Women Tell All [special],” Gia snapped back. “The world already knows [your] true colors.”

Yikes. As for what happened between Gia and Wes, Gia said the following to Realitysteve.com about his rumored hook up with Vienna, “Wes is a snake who only cares about himself and uses people to try to get another 15 minutes of fame, so this doesn’t shock me about him at all.” Safe to assume these are not friendly exes.

TELL US – SHOULD VIENNA BE THE NEXT BACHELORETTE? THOUGHTS ON THE TWITTER FEUD & GIA’S COMMENTS?

Chris, who was the runner up on Ali Fedotowsky’s season of The Bachelorette, has found love off camera. In a new interview with UsWeekly, Chris finally admits he is indeed dating Bachelor Pad alum Peyton Wright. In fact, the two have been dating since last August.

“I love her and I’m so happy to be with her,” Chris, 33, told UsWeekly at a Bachelor reunion party in NYC Saturday. “And you know what, the one good thing that came from this show, well two good things– one, meeting Peyton and two, the strong friendships I made. I have no regrets about doing the show.”

Chris reveals he made things official with Peyton last fall. “I think I asked her to be my girlfriend October 3rd,” said Chris. “I made him!” chimed in Peyton. “I’m like, ‘Are we going to define this?’ And he said, ‘Peyton, will you be my girlfriend?'”

And when it comes to the current season of the Bachelor with Brad Womack, Peyton reveals her top choice for Brad. “I like Emily a lot — they definitely have a connection!” she said. As for Chris, he reveals he is “definitely not” watching this season of the show.

Michelle Money, who is arguably the craziest most controversial contestant on this season of theBachelor, is once again making headlines for the wrong reasons.

Whether it be waking up with a random mysterious black eye on the show or being overly aggressive with Brad Womack, Michelle is definitely making her mark on the show.

The latest is now a Life & Style magazine cover story in which Michelle herself admits she had an affair with NBA star Carlos Boozer — while he was married. Michelle tells Life & Style, “Yes, I was in a relationship with Carlos while he was still married. What I did was wrong.”

Michelle, an actress and single mother to 5-year-old daughter Brielle, claims what any good homewrecker claims, which is that she was under the impression Carlos was separated from his wife Cece at the time, though he didn’t file for divorce until March 2009, while he and Michelle were already involved.

“I should never have been so naive to assume what I was told was true,” Michelle says. “I’m not trying to shy away from the fact that he was still married. I don’t put that on Carlos. I don’t put that on anyone but myself. I feel terrible for Cece for that pain she’s had to go through and that I am a part of it.” Following Carlos’ split with his wife, he and Michelle ended things in June 2009. “All I can do,” Michelle says, “is try to do better with my life. I screwed up. But I can only try to do the best I can.”

In other Bachelor news, tonight’s episode, which has yet to air, is already proving to be a controversial one. The reason? It all has to do with a NASCAR date involving Emily Maynard.

See Emily, 24, a single mother to a young daughter, was 19-years-old when her then fiance and race car driver Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash. A few days later, Emily discovered she was pregnant.

So while most people can imagine the kind of pain and trauma Emily has been through, it seems the producers of the show aren’t quite seeing it the same way. Emily’s first date with Brad had her flying on a small plane with him, something she was scared to do of course, but that wasn’t enough for the producers as her group date with Brad on tonight’s show has them visiting a NASCAR track. In the preview clips shown, Emily can be seen having a negative reaction to the date.

In a new interview with PEOPLE magazine, host Chris Harrison is defending the show and the date, claiming it was already planned before Emily was cast.

“This date and season were set up before Emily was cast. She ended up on the NASCAR date by happenstance. But we’re not stupid. We knew her story by that point so we had a choice to make. We could have told Brad or warned Emily. We chose to let the real-life drama play out,” says Chris. “It forced Emily to face demons I don’t think she’s dealt with. It also forced Brad to learn the rest of the story … It was either going to blow up in their face with Brad realizing, “I can’t handle this. I can’t replace this guy,” and Emily realizing she’s not quite ready, or they would move through it.”

The new episode of the Bachelor airs tonight on ABC at 8/7c. A photo of Emily and Ricky is below.

TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS SEASON OF THE BACHELOR SO FAR & MICHELLE’S ADMISSION? IS EMILY’S NASCAR DATE TOO CRUEL?